The inaugural IRONMAN event in Scandinavia took place in Kalmar in 2012 and the event has quickly become an athlete favorite. The swim course is in the Baltic Sea, the bike course is over the 6 km long bridge to the island Öland, a popular spot for tourists from around the world, and the run course goes through central parts of Kalmar with the finish line located on the main square.

IRONMAN Kalmar will offer 40 qualifying slots for the 2019 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, HI.